Boda boda cyclists defy Police on passengers

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Some cyclists have not adhered to Police announcement banning carrying of extra passengers.

By Vision Reporter

A day after announcing sh200, 000 fine for Boda boda cyclists carrying more than one passengers, some cyclists have not adhered.

Police on Tuesday announced that it had embarked on massive operation targeting boda bodas carrying more than a passenger or animals. The operation will also target the excess rider (passenger).

Under the operation, traffic officers will impound any boda boda carrying an extra passenger, loaded with animals or a sack.

In addition to arresting the cyclists and subjecting him to either a sh200,000 fine or being charged in court, the police will also arrest the extra passenger and subject him or her to the same fine under the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS).

Addressing the press Kampala police boss Andrew Felix Kaweesi said the operation is aimed at restoring a degree of normalcy on city roads and curbing road accidents in the city.

"From today on wards no boda boda will be allowed to carry more than one passenger. Anyone who contravenes this will have the motorcycle impounded and the cyclist charged and the extra passenger fined," Kaweesi said.

"If one cannot be disciplined to know the dangers of being carried as an extra passenger, then the law should be applied to discipline the person," he said blaming errant boda boda cyclists who he said "think they are above the law" for many accidents in the city.

"This mess must stop," he said adding that the traffic and road safety Act criminalizes pillion riding (carrying an extra passenger).

Any one boda boda cyclist carrying bags of charcoal, posho or whatever sack, he said, will be charged. "The public must be saved from these dangers," he said adding that he has already instructed the various police unit bosses to take action and that meetings have already been held with the leadership of various boda boda associations in the city.

The police he said will enforce the operation firmly and consistently and will not be swayed. "If you think we are not serious on this, wait and see," Kaweesi said.